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Tommy Glaviano was signed as an amateur free agent by the St. Louis Cardinals before the 1941 season. He spent his first year in pro ball in the outfield for the Fresno Cardinals of the class C California League, where he appeared in 53 games and had a .253 batting average. He was switched to shortstop in 1942 and played 67 games with the Fresno squad again, hitting .221. He spent 62 outings with the Springfield (OH) Cardinals for the balance of the year, hitting at a .225 clip.

The United States Military was Glaviano's home for the next three years (1943-1945) as he served in the Coast Guard during World War II. Tommy arrived back in time for the 1946 season, suiting up with the Fresno Cardinals again. He had his best season during his pro baseball tenure (not adjusting for league quality). The 22-year-old shortstop went to the plate 435 times, had 147 base hits (including 22 home runs) and hit for a .338 average, along with a .616 slugging percentage. Glaviano won the California League MVP award, also leading the league in runs scored with 142 along with 64 stolen bases and started on the All-Star team.

Tommy had two solid years back-to-back, starting with the Houston Buffaloes in 1947, where he hit .245 with 13 homers. In 1948, he hit .287 with 18 round-trippers for the Columbus Red Birds. This was enough to get him a ticket to Sportsman's Park in 1949 with the St. Louis Cardinals. Glaviano played four years (1949-1952) with the Cardinals as an all-around infielder, with 1950 being his best major league season, when he hit .285 in 115 games and busted 11 homers. Tommy wound up his major league stint in 1953 with the Philadelphia Phillies, having an overall career major league record of 389 appearances, a lifetime .257 batting average and 24 four-baggers. He also had a career .955 fielding percentage.

Glaviano spent three more years in pro baseball, winding up in 1957 with the San Antonio Missions, ending a 13-year active run in pro baseball. He had a good minor league record, appearing in 780 contests with 2,495 at-bats, 640 base hits (including 69 home runs) and a .257 minor league average.